Thread guide and slub catcher



M. E. BARNES I 29 5 THREAD GUIDE AND SLUB CATCHER Filed May 2, 1341Qwuwwtow Patented Aug. 11, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE THREADGUIDE AND SLUB CATCHEE I Myron E. Barnes, Columbus, Ga.

Application May 2, 1941, Serial No. 391,615

7 Claims. (01. 2s-'-s4) This invention relates to yarn Winding machineand more particularly to a gauge for the yarn.

An object of this invention is to provide a yarn gauge for a windingmachine which is adapted to catch or retain the slub or loose fibers andwhich is so constructed and arranged that at each revolution of thewinding head the gauge will be cleaned.

Another object of this invention is to provide a yarn gauge of thiskindwhich at a selected position or point in the travel thereof with thewinding head is adapted to be automatically opened up and subjected to ablast of air, so that the slub accumulating in the gauge will not onlybe released, but will also be forced out of the gauge. In this mannerthe slub will not be given an opportunity tocollect to any great extentand thus the slub will not tend to break the yarn by binding or crowdingthe yarn in the gauge as is at present the case.

A further object of this invention is to provide a self-cleaning gaugeof this kind which is designed for attachment to a winding machine knownto the trade as the Abbott machine, of the type as shown in patents Nos.1,700,425 and 2,177,680, although if desired it can readily and easilybe adapted to other types of machines.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, theinvention consists of the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to andillustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein is shown an embodimentof the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variationsand modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a detail front elevation partly broken away of a combinedyarn gauge and cleaning means constructed according to an embodiment ofthis invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-4 of Figure l, and

Figure is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I0 designates generally a baseplate which is adapted to be secured in any suitable manner to an arm II, which is correlated with and operatively connected with a rotarywinding head. The plate I0 is adapted to travel with the head around themachine so as to provide a gauge structure which is movable with thewinding head. One type of winding structure with which this inventionmay be combined is shown in Patent No. 1,644,973, which issued October11, 1927. It is well known that in winding the yarn on a spindle orbobbin, it is desirable that the yarn be of a predetermined size ordiameter and that as much as possible of the loose fibers commonlytermed slub be removed from the yarn or thread before the yarn or threadis wound upon the bobbin or spindle.

While gauges of several types have been constructed for forming the yarninto a predetermined diameter and size these gauges frequently becomeclogged with the slub or loose fibers and cause a breaking of the yarn.It is in order to provide a means whereby the slub or loose fibers maybe periodically removed from the gauge that I have provided a combinedgauge blade and yarn cleaning member generally designated as I2. Theblade I2 is formed at its forward end with an inclined nose I3 and witha concave cutout I4 on the leading or forward face thereof. The blade I2is inclined outwardly and upwardly, as at I5, from the leading inneredge I4 thereof and in normaloperation the arcuate portion I4 comprisesa cleaning member for removing the loose fibers or slub from the yarnand these loose fibers may be forced outwardly along the inclined faceI5.

The blade I2 has threadably mounted therethrough at a pointsubstantially centrally of the forward and rear ends thereof a threadedbushing I6 formed with an inner wall I! and a cylindrical bore IS. Theouter edge of the bushing I6 is provided with a pair of diametricallyopposed kerfs or slots I9 for receiving a tool by means of which thebushing I6 may be adjusted relative to the blade I2 in order to positionthe inner face 20 of the blade I2 in the desired spaced relation withrespect to the forward face 2| of the base plate I0. I

A bolt comprisinga shank 22 and a head 23 is extended through an opening24, which is formed in the inner wall I! of, the bushing I6, the head 23of the bolt being of substantially a smaller diameter than the bore I8,so that'the blade I2 may have a limited rocking movement with respect tothe base plate, I0. The' opening 24 in the inner end wall I! issufiiciently'larger in diameter than the diameter of the'shank 22 sothat the bushing I6 may rock to a limited degree with respect to theshank 22. The base plate I0 is formed with a recess or socket in itsrear side within which the nut 26 of the bolt is adapted to becountersunk.

A spring 21 is disposed about the shank 22 of the bolt and one end ofthe spring 21 engages against the inner side of the head 23 and theother end of the spring 21 bears against the outer side of the end wallH. In this manner the bushing I6 with the blade I2 may be yieldablyadjusted to yieldably hold the blade I2 against rocking movementrelative to the plate ID.

The plate I0 at one side of the shank 22 and adjacent the rear end ofthe base I0 is formed with a recess or socket 28 opening through theforward face 2| of the plate Ill. The blade I2 is also formed with arecess or socket 29, which confronts the socket or recess 28 and acylindrical plug is loosely mounted in the two confronting sockets orrecesses 28 and 29. A spring 3| is disposed within the socket or recess28 and bears against one end of the plug 39. A second spring 32 ispositioned in the socket or recess 29 and bears against the opposite endof the plug 30 so as to thereby coact with the spring 3| in maintainingthe plug 3|] partly in the socket 28 and partly in the socket 29. Inthis manner the plug 3!] will provide a means for holding the blade I2against circumferential movement about the bolt shank 22 and will alsoprovide a means for yieldably urging the operating or gauge end of theblade I2 in the direction of the gauge face 2| of the plate I0 to thelimit permitted by the loose coupling between the bushing I6 and thehead 23 of the bolt, and also the tension of the spring 21 against theinner wall ll of the bushing I6.

The base plate I0 is provided in its forward working face 2| adjacentthe plug 30 with an elongated slot 33. fastening means to the blade I2and has one portion thereof loosely engaging in the slot 33, so as tocoact with the plug 3!! in holding the blade I2 against rotary movementabout the shank 22 while permitting the limited rocking movement of theblade toward or away from the working face 2| of the plate IO. Theblacle I2 at its rear or inner end is formed with a laterally offset lug35, which is provided with an ear 3! and a roller 31a is rotatablymounted between the ear 3! and the inner side of the lug 36. Anelongated fiat spring 38 is mounted on a stationarysupport or standard39, which is disposed in such a position that the free end of the spring33 will contact'with the roller 31a at each circuit of the cleaningdevice and winding head in order to rock the blade I2 on the bolt shank22 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. The rocking of the rear end ofthe blade I2 toward the plate It will cause theopposite or forwardworking end of the blade I2 to be swung away from the working face 2| ofthe plate IEI, thereby widening the gauge space 49 between the two gaugemembers I0 and I2. The widening of the space by rocking of blade I2under the action of the spring38 will loosen any fibers or slug, whichpacksup in the space 40 between the plate III and the blade I2.

At substantially the same time that the spring 38 rocks the blade I2 toa released position, an air blast is adapted to be projected from anozzle 4| as showninFigure 1 in the direction of the arcuate cleaningface M of the blade I2. This blast of air will force out any loosefibers or slug which remains between the plate I0 and the blade I2, H

A guide plate 34 is fixed by and as this air cleaning operation iseffected at each revolution of the winding head and the gauge member,there will not be sufiicient time for an undue amount of slub or loosefibers to pack up in the gauge space 40.

The air nozzle M is adapted to be connected to an air supply pipe 42 andif desired the air ejected from the nozzle 4| may be so correlated withthe circulation of the winding head that the air from the supply pipe 42will be normally cut off during the major portion of the circulation ofthe winding head, but will be turned on or communicated with the nozzle4| at the time the spring 38 is in operative engagement with thereleasing lug or finger 36.

In the use and operation of this combined gauge and yarn cleaning means,the base plate III with the blade I2 is adapted to be mounted on thewinding head and the bushing I6 is adapted to be adjusted endwise withrespect to the blade I 2, so as to position the inner working face ofthe blade I2 in the desired spaced relation with respect to the workingface 2| of the base plate Ill. The spring 38 with the standard 39 arepositioned in the path of the circulation of the lug 36 carried by theblade I2 so that when the roller 31a contacts with the spring 38 thetension of the spring 38 will effect an opening or Widening of the gaugespace 40 by rocking the rear end of the blade I2 in the direction of theworking face 2| of the plate II). The blast of air ejected from thenozzle 4| will blow out any 10056 fibers or slub which collects in thespace 40 or against the concave leading face I4 of the blade I2. Afterthe roller 31a ride's'past the spring 38, the blade I2 will return toits normal operating position which is the position shown in full linesin Figure 12.

What I claim is:

1. A yarn gauge and cleaner comprising a base plate for attachment to acirculating winding head, a combined cleaner and gauge blade confrontingsaid base .plate, pivotal supporting means for mounting said blade inconfronting relation to said base plate, yieldable means correlated withsaid pivotal means for urging said blade toward said plate, and astationary yieldable member disposed in the path of the circulatingmovement of said blade for rocking said blade to a released and cleaningposition at each circulation of the head.

2. A yarn gauge and cleaner comprising a base plate for attachment to acirculating winding head, a combined cleaner and gauge blade confrontingsaid .base plate, pivotal sup-porting means for mounting said blade inconfronting relation to said base plate, yieldable means correlated withsaid pivotal means for urging said blade toward said plate, and astationary yieldable member disposed in the path of the circulatingmovement of said blade for rocking said blade to a released and cleaningposition at each circulation'of the head and means for'directing astream of air toward said blade at the time said blade is moved to :anopen position.

3. In combination a yarn gauge and cleaner comprising a base plate forattachment to a circulating winding head, a co'mbinedgauge blade andyarn cleaner pivotally carried by said plate, means mounting said bladeon said plate for limited rocking movement toward or away from saidplate, means engageable with said blade at least once during eachcomplete circulation of said head for rocking said blade to a releasedposition, and means active when said blade is in a released position forforcing the fibers away from said blade.

4. A yarn gauge and cleaner comprising a base plate for attachment to acirculating winding head, a gauge blade confronting said plate, abushing threaded through said blade and engageable with said plate foradjusting the spacing of,

said blade from said plate, a bolt loosely engaging through said bushingand threaded into said plate, a spring about said bolt within saidbushing and providing a means for yieldably holding said blade againstrocking while maintaining said blade in adjusted position, a rollercarried by said blade adjacent one end thereof, and a stationary springengageable with said roller during each circulation of said head tothereby rock said blade to a released position.

5. A yarn gauge and cleaner comprising a base plate for attachment to acirculating winding head, a gauge blade confronting said plate, abushing threaded through said blade and engageable with said plate foradjusting the spacing of said blade from said plate, a bolt looselyengaging through said bushing and threaded into said plate, a springabout said :bolt within said bushing and providing a means for yieldablyholding said blade against rocking while maintaining said blade inadjusted position, a roller carried by said blade adjacent one endthereof and offset laterally therefrom, a stationary spring engageablewith said roller during each circulation of said head to thereby rocksaid blade to a released position, and an air ejecting nozzle fordirecting a stream of air between said plate and said blade.

6. A yarn gauge and cleaner comprising a base plate for attachment to acirculating winding head, a gauge blade confronting said plate, a

bushing threaded through said blade and engageable with said plate foradjusting the spacing of said blade from said plate, a bolt looselyengaging through said bushing and threaded into said plate, a springabout said bolt within said bushing and providing a means for yieldablyholding said blade against rocking while maintaining said blade inadjusted position, said plate and blade having confronting recesses atone side of said bolt, a spring-pressed plug engaging loosely in saidrecesses, a roller carried by said blade adjacent one end thereof andoffset laterally therefrom, and a stationary spring engageable with saidroller during each circulation of said head to thereby rock said bladeto a released position.

'7. A yarn gauge and cleaner comprising a base plate for attachment to acirculating winding head, a gauge blade confronting said plate, abushing threaded through said blade and engageable with said plate foradjusting the spacing of said blade from said plate, a bolt looselyengaging through said bushing and threaded into said .plate, a springabout said bolt within said bushing and providing a means for yieldablyholding said blade against rocking While maintaining said blade inadjusted position, said plate and blade having confronting recesses atone side of said bolt, a spring-pressed plug engaging loosely in saidrecesses, said plate having an elongated slot therein, a guide platecarried by said blade loosely engaging in said slot, a roller carried bysaid blade adjacent one end thereof and offset laterally therefrom, anda stationary spring engageable with said roller during each circulationof said head to thereby rock said blade to a released position.

MYRON E. BARNES.

